Iowa lawmaker appears to echo Akin’s rape comments

While Republican Senate candidate from Missouri, Rep. Todd Akin, is feeling serious heat from his own party after controversial remarks on rape last week, another Midwest Republican lawmaker appeared to commit a similar gaffe Monday.

Rep. Steve King of Iowa, in defense of Akin, said he supports the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, ” which would ban federal funding of abortions except in cases of forcible rape, KMEG-TV in Iowa reported. As it stands, Medicaid also covers abortions for victims of statutory rape or incest, KMEG reported, for example, a 12 year old who gets pregnant.

Congressman King says he’s not aware of any young victims like that.

“Well I just haven’t heard of that being a circumstance that’s been brought to me in any personal way, and I’d be open to discussion about that subject matter,” he said.

CBS’ Political Hotsheet reported that King released a statement Tuesday suggesting his comments were taken out of context:

“I never said, nor do I believe, a woman, including minors, cannot get pregnant from rape, statutory rape or incest. Suggesting otherwise is ridiculous, shameful, disgusting and nothing but an attempt to falsely define who I am,” he said. “I have never heard of and categorically reject the so-called medical theory that launched this controversy.”

Akin renewed his vow to carry on with his embattled Senate campaign Tuesday, even as a key deadline loomed to withdraw from the race over his comments that women’s bodies can prevent pregnancies in cases of “legitimate rape.”

Akin, who has been frantically trying to salvage his once-promising bid against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill, insisted the uproar surrounding his remarks was an overreaction to misspeaking “one word in one sentence on one day.”

For the second time in two days, Akin went on the radio show hosted by former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to say he planned to stay in the race, despite constant urging from prominent members of his own party to step aside.

The uproar began Sunday, when St. Louis television station KTVI aired an interview in which Akin was asked if he would support abortions for women who have been raped.

“It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said.